NAP500 off for upgrade!

douglas posted:

I've always found Naim upgrades to be an improvement (ND555?) on the basis that they wouldn't do it if there was no gain. Even if I bought blind which I have, never felt short changed. However not all upgrades are equal. This is one of their best. If the amp is getting on a bit (10 years or so) then the service pack is worthwhile.

From memory the 500 power amp dates back to roundabout 2000. My guess is they could have brought out a complete new amp after all that time, but went down the upgrade route to the benefit of existing owners. Its VFM.

We would all like a Statement if funds and space would allow. I think it gets pretty close for a much reduced financial outlay. When Hi-Fi News reviewed the 500DR they said it was no poor relation to its bigger brother. Also said in the same review the 250DR was equally valid at its price point. The law of diminishing returns perhaps?

Douglas.

 

 

 

Yes, I had it serviced at the same time (the extra cost was relatively small).  I can't remember how old the amp is, but I think it was more than 15 years old.

A possibly relevant point here is that I think that my mains supply is pretty clean - there is an electricity pole outside the house with a transformer on it, and ours is the only house fed by it.  There is nothing on the bit of the ring (i.e. the consumer unit fuse pair) but the hifi kit and a few lights.  I suspect that the DR part of the upgrade may not provide quite as much benefit as it would in a housing estate, for instance.  But I could be very wrong on that.

Early days (hours) BEACHCOMER. Either way you have a great upgrade.

Douglas

Yes, I'm sure you are right.  I have read that it can take a long time for it to be at its best - though I am rather suspicious of those claims, and think that it may be the listener who changes over time, rather than or as much as the kit.  Certainly pleased so far.

nac52 is perfectly OK. I ran that into my active 500DR/SL2 system while my 552 was being serviced and was surprised/shocked how good it is.

The 500 will sound great straight from the DR-upgrade, but from my experience, shared by others who have done the same upgrade, is that it will definitely improve (and substantially so) in the course of the next few months.

I did my 500DR upgrades in autumn 2016 --- they definitely sound a hell of a LOT better now that they did straight from he factory -- and emphatically too...

So, prepare to enjoy...!

/ken

Thanks, Ken - if you're right (and I expect you are) then they should be stunning next year :-)

Beachcomber posted:

Thanks, Ken - if you're right (and I expect you are) then they should be stunning next year :-)

Yes....by December 2019.

Looking forward to this upgrade as well. First want to have the ND555 in an warm before I would consider this.  And of course finances need to be available as well.

One small puzzle - there was a Naim illuminated badge carefully put into a polythene bag included in the NAP500 box - any idea why, anyone?

Beachcomber posted:

One small puzzle - there was a Naim illuminated badge carefully put into a polythene bag included in the NAP500 box - any idea why, anyone?

As far as I can gather from the work sheets, these are changed as part of the upgrades.

I'm just curious why they included the replaced badge (and only one of them, for that matter).  Not important, of course, I suppose it means I have a spare in the unlikely event that one of them goes.  Perhaps the colour wasn't quite right (which would, of course, affect the overall colour of the music).

Cheers

When I have a sec I'll look in my box (already in the attic) to see if I got one too. I think the logo is connected with the Remote control in some way - and/or it could have some sort of sonic effect. I'm assuming you have the old one in your box....

One of the badges may have shown the dreaded bleed and they changed it for you during the service.

They have either given you back the original (in which case you should be able to confirm that it was a bleeder) or a spare, so that should it happen again it can be changed at the dealer.

One thing I have noticed is that the NAP500 seems to run a little warmer.  Actually, two things - it seems a tad louder - or at least I'm not turning the volume up quite as high as I used to.  The extra warmth might, of course, be because the air temperature is warmer at the moment - I'll see when the weather cools down a bit.  But it never used to get quite this hot (nothing desperate - not fried-eggs temperature).

My wife's (?) 500 is installed in a cupboard and not on a Fraim where it should be! Bearing in mind its sculptured looks I think its worthy of being displayed but you can't have it all. Its a pretty tight fit. The sides and back are open, front closed, with only 25mm or so, if that, between the top of the amp and a shelf with more black boxes above. As hot air rises this did concern me,

At the Windsor Show in 2016 and before my DR upgrade I mentioned to the ever helpful Jason how it was installed. He said this was not a problem as the unit is designed to operate in much warmer climates than the UK.

It has always been  a bit warn in comparison to its more junior brothers. For the past few days with no music I can hear the Fan/s just trickling over. Can never remember if it has one or two. Today is a bit cooler and with background music playing  all silent.

If I play Telegraph Road by Dire Straits at a level for the neighbours to know we are home then summer or winter on comes  the fan. Never had it shut down on me.

So, all in all not a problem. Douglas.

Wouldn't you rather play some Smiths through a 500?

Trust me, it would be far better.

Try and get hold of Fleetwood Mac Tusk at 96k ........its great album (much better than the overrated Rumours) there is a track on there called Storms ...... just as the track is ending  you can just hear a distant thunderstorm ....... try it ..... it is tricky to hear.

Just as Reel Around The Fountain ends you can hear Morrissey sigh.

Greetings Beachcomber,

A raised ambient temperature will of course make a difference but it could be that you are playing a bit louder. 

I find that can happen with upgrades as the sound becomes easier and less stressed. A DR’d 500 does seem to have an element of ‘presenting’ as opposed to ‘projecting’ the music. Plus; I found my newly upgraded 500 to sound (whilst obviously better), a bit soft-focus. You’ll probably discover that improved alacrity, leading-edge, fine detail, grip and zest develops with time. 

My 500 seems to run cooler with Super Lumina than it did with NAC A5. 

Enjoy the ride. 

John. 

J.N. posted:

Greetings Beachcomber,

A raised ambient temperature will of course make a difference but it could be that you are playing a bit louder. 

I find that can happen with upgrades as the sound becomes easier and less stressed. A DR’d 500 does seem to have an element of ‘presenting’ as opposed to ‘projecting’ the music. Plus; I found my newly upgraded 500 to sound (whilst obviously better), a bit soft-focus. You’ll probably discover that improved alacrity, leading-edge, fine detail, grip and zest develops with time. 

My 500 seems to run cooler with Super Lumina than it did with NAC A5. 

Enjoy the ride. 

John. 

Yes, I had wondered whether I have been tempted to play a little louder because of that.  And some of the tracks I hav e been listening to have quite a lot of deep bass in them.

Ghettoyout posted:

Just as Reel Around The Fountain ends you can hear Morrissey sigh.

I Don't Owe You Anything is great as well, my old  Smiths'  cd editions are much better than new Morrissey releases.

Regards

Roberto